Safety device fob motion-picture machines



H. E. WAISON. SAFETY DEVICE FOR IvIoIIN PICTURE MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. I9I7.

l ,3 l l ,863. 999mm JIIIy 29, 1919.

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H. E. WATSON. SAFETY DEVICE TOIT IvIoTIoII PICTURE MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27| lgl l ,3 1 1 ,363. alfvnfffd July 29, 15H9.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- azfson;

attorney' I UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

HARRY iE. WATSON, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK. B. THOMPSON, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR MOTION-PICTURE MACHINES.

To all whom t ma 1/ concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY E. lVATsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Richmond, county of lVayne, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Motion-Picture Machines. of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification, the same being such as will enable motion-picture-machine operators to install and use the same with exactitude.

The object of my present invention is to improve the construction. simplify the operation, and reduce the expense of maintenance of cinematographs or motion picture machines using transparentfilms, the sameembodying certain improvements over that set forth in Letters Patent No. 1,230,351, issued to me June 19, 1917.

The preferred manner of carrying out my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which-Figure 1 shows a face elevation of the controlling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thesame. Fig. 3 1s a cross section of the same, as taken on the line 3-3 of Figs. l1 and '2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the interior of a projecting machine, showing the connection and the relative location of my improvements with relation thereto and to each other. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lantern in which the light is developed for projecting the pictures carried by the film operating through the machine shown in Fig. 4, and showing the rela` tive position of the machine and the lantern with relation to each other. Fig. 6 is a top plan view vof the lower or main contact device. Fig. 7 vis a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 8 is a plan view vof the underside of the upper or secondary contact device. Fig. 9 1s a side elevation of the" main contact device. Fig. 10 is a side elevation ot' the secondary contact device. Fig. 11 is a diagrammat-ical view of the wiring system. Fig. 12 is a fragmental view of a portion of the base, showing the plungerdown. And Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the sprocket rollers and a portion of the film which travels thereover. v

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views. The controlling mechanism is to be inclosed in a caseincluding the base 1 and the cover 2, the latter Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed September 27, 1917. Serial No. 193,403.

being detachably secured to the former by a )luralit-y of screws 3.

`he circuit breaker comprises an oblong vertical plate 4 having reverse inturned edges forming the flanges 4 and 4 which are integral therewith but spaced therefrom and located parallel with each other and with the plate 4, thereby forming bifurcated channels at each edge of the plate in which may slidethe plunger 5, which is substantially one-half the length of the plate 4. The said plate 4 is secured to the face of the base 1, longitudinally thereof, and near the left-hand edge thereof, substantially as shown.

Secured below the lower end of the pla-te 4, is the finger 7, the same being rigidly connected to the plate 101 and to the base 1 by means of the screw 6. And the plate 101 is secured to the base 1 by the screw 100. Secured to the upper end portion of the plunger 5, by the screw 8, is the finger 9. Connect-ing the outwardlyprojecting portion of the finger 9 and the lower portion of the plate 4 is the helical spring 10, which normally pulls the plunger 5 downward withits lower end in contact with the finger 7.

Secured by the screw 11 to the 'base 1, immediately above but not in contact with the upper end of the plate 4, is the plate 12.

Extending across and secured near the-upper edge of the base l is the finger 14,'wh'ich 1s secured by the screw 13. Attached tofthe secured portion of the tongue .14, byffthe screw 15, is the tongue 16, which. extends down over but not in contact with the 'plate 12, and in such manner that the upper end of the plunger 5 may contact with and'be located between said tongue 16 and the plate 12. Numeral 17 denotes an' angular plate which lies flat against the face of the base 1.'

one end thereof extending 'under the upper portion of the plate 4, where it is secured by the screw 18, by which the plate 4 is attached to the base 1. The other branch ofthe plate 17 extends to the screw 1 9. Saidfs'crew 19 extends through -the base land intothe'post 20, whereby said post is retained in'psition projecting from the back of the base 1. Also extending back from the base 1, and located on each side of the post 20, are the posts 21 and 22 which are securedby the respective Screws 23 andI 24, which are shown on the front of the base 1.

on the pin 38, and

Connecting the screws 13 and 23 is the wire 25. Extending from the screw 24. is the wire 26 which is connected to upper winding of the electromagnet 33, hereinafter referred to.

Secured to the base 1 by the screws 27 and 28 is the tongue 29 which contacts with the plate 17. Pivoted to the tongue 29, by the screw 30, is the switclrarni 31, which is adapted to be turned into Contact with the tongue 14. The arm 31 extends outward through a slot in the cover 2, and on its outer end is secured the handle 32.

Numeral 33 designates the electro-magnet, the poles a: and a of which are connected by the bar 34. Said magnet is suspended from the l--shaped bracket the base 1, as shown.

The wire 26 is connected to one spool of the magnet 33; and a wire 36 extends from the other spool of the magnet to the screw 11 of t-he'plate 12. Numeral 37 denotes the armature of the magnet, it being adapted to contact with the poles and .e when the magnet is magnetized. Said armature is pivoted a tongue 39 extends vto the left from and at right-angles to the armature 37, the same having outwardly turned ears fv and o which register with similar ears y and y extending out from the flange 4, and the pin 38 extends through all of by the screw 41, tends to resiliently retain the armature away from the poles of the magnet, and alsoto hold the tongue 39 in the path of the plunger 5, whereby when the plunger is moved Aupward to its limit, against the resiliency of the spring l0, the lower end thereof will rest on the edge of the tongue 39, as in Fig. 1. Numeral 42 denotes a post, similar to the posts 20, 21 and 22, and it extends out from the base .1, and it is located below the post 20. Said post 42 is secured in place by the screw 43. Extending from the screw43 to the screw 100 is the Wire 44, which by means of the plate 101 has' electrical connection with the tongue 7. Numeral 45 denotes a clamp which is se` cured to the'base 1 by which the controlling mechanism may be secured where desired. The projecting machine, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, comprises the case 46 in which is located the lens 47 which is in alinement with the outer frame 48 through which the 'light isprojected through the inner frame 49 and then through the lens 47. The light is projected through the nozzle 50 ot' the lantern, the said parts being arranged in the relative positions in which theyare shown, Figs. 4 5.

Numeral 51 denotes a shutter, which is pivoted on the front end of the nozzle 50, and it is normally-retained open, but it is 35 which vis secured to but they extend at said ears forming a hinge. A flat spring 40, which is secured to the base vand on its ends which may adapted to close the front end of the nozzle 50 when the chain 52 is pulled downward a slight distance, as hereinafter set forth.

Numeral 53 denotes the transparent film which is adapted lto be wound from one to the other of the spools 54 and 55 by means -is the arm 62 which carries the'roller 63,

which is adapted to contact with the sprocket roller 57, but in practice the iilm 53 travels therebetween.

The upper contact device comprises an arm 64 formed integral with the plate 65, right-angles with relation to each other. rlhe end of said arm 64 is forked in order that it may stride the thumbscrew 66 which is threaded into the end portion of the arm 62, and it is adapted to be rigidly secured -in place by the lock-nut 67 which is threaded around said screw 66. Extending from the plate 65 is the springtongue 68, attached by the screw 69, and in the free end of the tongue 68 ismounted the roller 70 which is retained in resilient contact with the film 53, as shown.

Pivoted to the machine by the screw 71 is the arm 72 which carries'the roller 73 which is adapted to contact with the sprocket 'oller 56, but in practice t-he film 53 travels therebetween.

The lower contact device comprises an arm 74, which is formed integral with the plate 75. The end of the arm 74 is forked in order thatit may stride the screw 76 which is threaded into the arm 72 and it is adapted to be rigidly secured in place by the locknut 77. Numeral 78 denotes a bolt carried by the plate 75. Extending from said bolt 78, and located parallel with the arm 74, is the spring arm 79, which is T-shaped, and carries the spaced-apart rollers 80 and 81. Inserted through the plate are the adjusting screws82 and 83, whose points' are adapted to contact with the head of the spring-arm 79. A wire 84 has `one end thereof secured to the arm 79, the other end being attached to some metal part of the machine by the screw 85. A spring arm 86 is secured to the bolt 78 directly below the arm 79, is mounted the roller 87 revolve on the central portion of the film 53, and it is located between the rollers and 81, as in Fig. 7.

Numerals 88 and 89 denote insulators, the former insulating the arm 79 from 'the plate 75, and the latter insulating the arm 86 from the arm 79 and also insulating the arm 79 from the bolt 78 by which it is secured to the plate 75. v

Lett-er G denotes the ground, and A denotes the wire which connects the case 16 with the ground G, as indicated in Fig. 11.

Letter B denotes the source of electrical power, from which extends the circuit wires C and D, the former heilig attached to one pole of the motor M, and the other being attached to the post The wire E extends from the other pole of the motor M and it is connected to the post 20. Connecting the upper and the lower contact devices is the wire F, one end of which is secured to the bolt 78, and the other end is secured to the bolt 69. Connecting the wire F with the post 21 is the wire H. The wire I is attached to the Wire H, from which it extends to one pole of the push button 90. A ground wire J extends from the other pole of the. push button to some metal part of the machine, through which a circuit may travel through the wire A to the ground G. A

The post. 42 .projects from the back of the base 1, it being secured by the screw 43 lwhich is-exposed on the inner face of the base l. y

Secured to the rear end of the post 42 is the. wire K which extends to the case 46, to which it is secured, forming a circuit through the bulb 91, as in Fig. 11. Said bulb is located in a position such as to illuminate the interior of the case 46 in order that the operator may see to repair the film when so required.

Operation: In the operation of motion picture machines the film is liable to become damaged and broken, and as the light projected upon the film is of great intensity it is evident that the film is liable to catch atire, which would probably ruin the ilm cause damage to the machine, and endanger the building in which it is located, therefore the main desideratum of this invention is to make the operation absolutely tire-proof,

even though an accident should happen and even if the operator be not present at the time.

It is to be understood that the motor may be operated by power taken from the source B, the circuit passing through the wire C to the motor M. The other branch of the circuit extends from the source B through the wire D to the post 22, through thescrew 23 and the wire 25 to the tongue 14' then (itl the switch be turned to the left) through the arm 31, the tongue 29, to the plate 17,

which latter is connected with the post 20,

by which it will be connected to the motor by the wire E. However if the switch arm be moved to vertical position as in Fig. l

then the power will 'be cut ofi' from the motor.

Now in order to set the controller the operator will move the plunger 5 upward to its limit where it will be retained by the latch or tongue 39 against the contracting force of the spring 10, thereby establishing an auxiliary circuit from the source B', through the wire D, to the post and the screw 23 through the wire to the screw 13, then through the tongue 11 to the-'finger 16, then through the plunger 5 to the plate al, from which it will pass to the plate 17, then to the screw 19, and to the post 20, and from the latter through the wire E to the motor -M, roniwhich the circuit will be completed through the wire C to the source B. Thus it will be seen that when the plunger is up, and the switch is open, both as in Fig. l, that a circuit will be est-ablished to the motor allowing it to operate, but if the plunger be down then the only way to operate the motor will be by closing the switch.

An instantaneous 'secondary cir'cuit may be established when the main circuit is in operation, which includes the wire 36 which extends from screw 11 of the tongue 12 to the lower spool of the magnet 33, and from the upper spool of the magnet through the wire 26, the screw 24, to t e post 21. The secondary circuit may continue through the wire H to the wire F, then through the upper or the lower contact device. as shown in Fig. 11 to where the circuit will be broken by the film, or if the film be damaged then the circuit will be completed through the wire 84,v then through the metal of the case 46 to the wire A, and then from the latter to the ground. Immediately upon the establishment of said secondary circuit it is evident that the magnet will become 1nag netized which will cause the poles .3 and to attract the armature 37 thereto. which will move the tongue 39 out from under the plunger 5, thereby permitting the plunger to Jfall until its lower end engages the finger 7, thereby breaking the main circuit to the motor (as at this time the switch will be open as in Fig. 1) and also at the same time breaking the secondary circuit. thereby releasing the armature 39 and permitting the spring 40 to remove the armature :from the poles of the magnet and allowing the tongue 39 to contact Withthe side of the plunger ready to move thereunder when the plunger is raised.

It should be noticed that it the film be broken whereby it does not contact with the roller 57 then the roller 70 will come into contact with the roller 57 thereby establishing the secondary circuit through the tongue 68, thescrew 69. and the Wire F, and through the roller 57 to the body of the machine, then through the wire A to the ground G.

It the film be broken whereby it leaves the roller 56 then the roller 87 will contact with the roller 56, thereby establishing the secondary circuit through the arm 86, the bolt 78, and the wire F, and through the roller 56 to the body from there through ground G.

Should the film in any manner fail to properly operate on the roller 56, without being severed, that is if the sprockets of the of the machine, and the wire A to the roller 56 fail to enter the apertures in the edges of the film, then the film would spring j away from the roller 56, which manifestly would cause the rollers. 8O and 811to be moved away from the roller 56, which would cause the arm 79 to spring'upward causing the head 0f' the arm 79 to contact with the 82 and 83, whichrwould thereby establish the secondary circuit' as follows: The circuit would pass from the wire F to the bolt 78, through the plate 75 and the screws 8:2 and 83 to the arm 7 9, then through the wire 84 to the body of the machine, from which it would be conducted by the wire A t0 the ground G, thereby establishing the secondary circuit even though the film be not broken. Y

I have found in practice that it is frequently desirable to manually accomplish the same lresults obtained through the secondary circuit by the film becoming broken or damaged. This is provided for by means of the push button 90, whereby if it be pressed the secondary circuit will be established as before, wire I, which is connected to the wire H, and the ground wire J, the endsof said wiresI and J being connected to opposite poles of the button 90, said poles being adapted to be connected by pressing said button. From the above it will be seen pressure on the button 90 will instantly cause the plunger to drop, thereby cutting ofij the power and stopping the operation of the machine until the plunger is again brought up to its normal operative position as in Fig. 1.

It should also be observed that as the plunger 5 moves downward it will pull the chain 52 which is connected thereto, thereby closing the shutter 51 and cutting ott' the intense light from being projected into the machine from the lantern.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In combination with an electrically operated motion picture machine having a film operated thereby and having means for projecting light upon and through the film, a controlling mechanism located at a distance from said machine and comprising a case including a base adapted to contain a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker comprising an oblong vertical 4plate having reverse inturned edges forming fianges integral .therewith but spaced therefrom and providing bifurcated channels at the edges of the plate, a plunger slidable in said channels in which case I employ the.

and of substantially one-half the length of said plate, a. finger secured to said base and located below the lower end of said plate, a second finger secured to the upper portion of said plunger, a helical spring connecting said fingers and adapted to normally pull the plunger downward with its lower end in contact with the first named finger, a tongue carried by the base and with which the upperend of said plunger is adapted to contact, an electro-magnet carried by the base, a movable arma-ture for said magnet, a tongue extending out at rightangles from the armature, a spring normally retaining the armature away from the poles of the magnet with the tongue of the armature in the path of said plunger whereby when the plunger is moved upward to its limit it will be supported by said tongue of the armature, an upper contact device for the film, a lower contact device for the film, electric circuits connecting said contact devices with the magnet whereby' upon the breaking ofthe film the current will be closed to cause the magnet to attract the armature and release the plunger thereby opening the circuits which operate the film and which supply the light which is directed upon'the film, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with an electrically operated motionpicture machine having a film operated thereby and having means for projecting light upon and through the film and an electric s ource of power and a motor operative by said power, a controlling mechanism including a base, a circuit breaker mounted on the base and comprising a vertical plate having bifurcated channels at its edges, a plunger slidable in said channels and being of substantially onehalf the length of the plate, a finger carried by the base and located below and spaced from said plate, a second finger carried by the upper portion of the plunger, a spring connecting said fingers for pulling the plunger downward with its lower end in contact with the first mentioned finger, a tongue carried by the base and adapted to contact with the plunger when the latter is at its upward limit of movement, a magnet carried by the base, a movable armature for the magnet, a tongue projecting from the armature, a spring normally retaining the armature away from the poles of the magnet with the tongue of the armature located in the pathof said plunger whereby when the plunger is moved upward to its limit it will be supported by said tongue of the armature, an upper contact device for the film, a lower contact device for the film, electric circuits connecting said contact devices with the magnet whereby when the film becomes damaged the current will close causing the magnet to attract the armature and release the plunger thereby opening the circuits which operate the motor and which supply the light which is directed upon the film, a switch adapted to establish an electric circuit for operating the film and for projecting light thereon independently of the rst circuit, and means for manually breaking the first circuit independently of said switch, all substantially as shown and described.

In testim ny whereof I have hereunto subscribed m name in the presence of two 10 subscribed Witnesses.

HARRY E. WATSON.

Witnesses:

FRANK B. THoMPsoN, Rom. W. HANDLE. 

